Sacred Art and the New Evangelization - Knights of Columbus ...

things, another way of experiencing realities, another way of
resolving conflicts. 14
Among the primary goals of the new evangelization is to
lead people to this “other way of seeing things,” as well as
to reawaken and nourish the faith of those who have lost
the practice of faith in a secularized society. A recovery of
the patristic doctrine of the “spiritual senses” will be vital
in efforts to renew and nurture faith in our times.
Lectio Divina Adapted to Art at the Service of the New
Evangelization
The practice of lectio divina has received renewed attention
in our day. Pope Benedict XVI has spoken on several occasions
of the need to recover this ancient spiritual practice.
In the Holy Father’s words, “The diligent reading of Sacred
Scripture accompanied by prayer makes that intimate dialogue
possible in which the person reading hears God who
is speaking, and in praying, responds to him with trusting
openness of heart…. If it is effectively promoted, this practice
will bring to the Church – I am convinced of it – a new
spiritual springtime.” 15
Might the practice of lectio divina adapted to the appreciation
of works of Christian art serve as a concrete means of
engaging the faithful in the new evangelization?
A hurried, even frantic pace of reading, hearing and seeing
has become a given in a sensory culture. With ever new
and improved information and communications technol-
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